PICTURE MOUNT APPARATUS
An apparatus for rapidly and efficiently changing artwork without having to disassemble and reassemble a mounting frame and its components, including a base frame for mounting to a wall. The base frame includes one or more magnets embedded in the base frame. A mounting board sized to match the dimensions of the base frame includes one or more metal strips matched to the placement of the one or more magnets embedded in the base frame. Optionally, a mat, glass or acrylic pane and an outer frame with one or more magnets embedded in the periphery of the outer frame matched to the placement of the one or more magnets embedded in the base frame, may be included.
This application claims the benefit of co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 61/578,287, filed Dec. 21, 2011, entitled PICTURE MOUNT APPARATUS.
FIELDThe present invention generally relates to mountings for artwork, and more particularly, to a frame for removably mounting artwork.
BACKGROUNDPicture mountings are known in the art. Typical prior art artwork mountings include a molding or frame that surrounds the art or picture, a glazing, which is the transparent panel or glass sheet in front of the artwork in the frame to enhance and/or protect the artwork, a mat board or matting, which complements the artwork, a mounting board, which is placed behind the artwork, a filler or backer board secured in the frame, which is placed behind the mounting board, and push points, trainable points or diamond points which hold the backer board in place. Other devices for securing the mounting board in place may be used including spring clips or slotted backs, for example.
One problem with these prior art mountings is the time and effort required to mount the artwork, and to periodically change the artwork. In offices and commercial settings, it is often desirable to periodically change, rotate or update the artwork displayed in an entry area, conference room or other area. Changing the artwork often requires skilled workers to change out the artwork. Further, removing the frame from the wall and rehanging the frame often results in frustration trying to locate the hanger on the back of the frame and match it to the hanger on the wall.
SUMMARYThe present invention provides an apparatus for rapidly and efficiently changing artwork without having to disassemble and reassemble a mounting frame and its components. The apparatus includes a base frame for mounting to a wall. The base frame includes one or more magnets embedded in the base frame. A mounting board sized to match the dimensions of the base frame includes one or more metal strips matched to the placement of the one or more magnets embedded in the base frame. Optionally, a mat, glass or acrylic pane and an outer frame with one or more magnets embedded in the periphery of the outer frame matched to the placement of the one or more magnets embedded in the base frame, may be included.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The drawings are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for the claims and/or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
Moreover, except where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description and in the claims are to be understood as modified by the word “about” in describing the broader scope of this invention. Practice within the numerical limits stated is generally preferred. Also, unless expressly stated to the contrary, the description of a group or class of materials as suitable or preferred for a given purpose in connection with the invention implies that mixtures or combinations of any two or more members of the group or class may be equally suitable or preferred.
Referring initially to
The base frame 14 may be a hollow or foam filled box, for example. The base frame 14 may include a front side 22, a top 24, sides 26, bottom 28, and rear side 30. The front side 22 includes magnets 32, which may be embedded in and flush with the surface of the front side 22 of the base frame 14. The magnets 32 may be placed in aligning locations with the metal material or magnets 20 mounted or embedded in the rear side 18 of the front panel 12. Preferably, magnets 32 (and magnets 20) are rare-earth, neodymium, or other permanent magnets suitable to releasably secure the front panel 12 to the base frame 14.
The rear side 30 of base frame 14 may include a mounting channel 34. Mounting channel 34 may have a generally rectangular or polygon shape with an upper support surface 36 sloping downwardly and rearwardly from the back surface 38 of the channel 34. Channel 34 is adapted to engage a hanger 40 mounted to a wall 42. The shape of the channel 34 and complementary hanger 40 as well as the weight of the base frame 14, removably and securely support the picture mount apparatus 10 on the wall 42.
Referring to
The rear side 60 of the base frame 50 may be substantially open with an upper back surface 64 and a lower edge 72. When the frame 50 is hung on the wall 42, the lower edge 72 of the back surface 64 rests on the hanger 40 supporting the frame 50.
Referring to
Mat 86 may also optionally be included to accent the artwork mounted to panel 12. The magnets 96 in frame 90 releasably secure the glass 88 and mat 86 to the base frame 82 when in alignment with the magnets 92.
Referring to
In practice, the base frame 14 may be mounted or hung on a wall in an office or other facility, building or dwelling. A front panel 12 may be easily, readily, securely and releasably attached to the base frame by placing the front panel 12 in proximity of the base frame 14 such that the front panel 12 is magnetically attached to the frame 14. The base frame 14 may include a peripheral lip to permit the front panel 12 to seat within the base frame 14. When a new or different picture mounted to the front side 16 of another front panel 12 is desired to be displayed, the currently mounted front panel 12 to the base frame 14 is simply removed and the new front panel is magnetically attached to the base frame 14. In this manner, pictures, artwork, and other items for display may be easily and readily mounted and displayed.
It should be understood that while a certain form of this invention has been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims.
Claims
1. A picture mount comprising:
- a base frame for mounting to a wall having a periphery, a front side and a magnet mounted to said front side of said base frame,
- a panel having a front side and a rear side and a ferrous metal strip mounted to said rear side of said panel,
- whereas said ferrous metal strip is positioned on said rear side of said panel to align with said magnet mounted to said front side of said base frame,
- whereas a picture may be mounted to said front side of said panel for display,
- whereas said panel may be releasably secured to and removed from said base frame without dismounting said base frame from the wall.
2. The picture mount of claim 1 wherein said base frame has a rectangular shape with corners and a magnet mounted to said front side of said base frame in each said corner.
3. The picture mount of claim 2 wherein said panel has a rectangular shape with corners and a ferrous metal strip mounted to said rear side of said panel in each said corner.
4. The picture mount of claim 2 wherein said magnets are embedded in said front side of said base frame.
5. The picture mount of claim 1 wherein said base frame is a hallow box.
6. The picture mount of claim 5 wherein said base frame includes a mounting channel in a rear side of said base frame for receiving a hanger secured to the wall for supporting said base frame.
7. The picture mount of claim 1 wherein said ferrous metal strip is positioned along the peripheral edges of said rear side of said panel.
8. A picture mount comprising:
- a base frame for mounting to a wall having top, bottom, left, right, front and back sides,
- a magnet secured to one of said top, bottom, left, right or front sides of said base frame,
- a panel having front and rear sides, and
- a metal strip secured to said rear side of said panel,
- whereas said metal strip is positioned on said rear side of said panel to correspond with placement of said magnet secured to said base frame,
- whereas a picture may be mounted to said front side of said panel, and
- whereas said panel may be releasably secured to and removed from said base frame without removing said base frame from the wall.
9. The picture mount of claim 8 wherein said base frame has a rectangular shape with corners and a magnet mounted to said front side of said base frame in each said corner.
10. The picture mount of claim 9 wherein said panel has a rectangular shape with corners and a ferrous metal strip mounted to said rear side of said panel in each said corner.
11. The picture mount of claim 9 wherein said magnets are embedded in said front side of said base frame.
12. The picture mount of claim 8 wherein said base frame is a hallow box.
13. The picture mount of claim 12 wherein said base frame includes a mounting channel in a rear side of said base frame for receiving a hanger secured to the wall for supporting said base frame.
14. The picture mount of claim 5 wherein said ferrous metal strip is positioned along the peripheral edges of said rear side of said panel.
15. A picture mount comprising:
- a base for mounting to a wall having top, bottom, left, right, front and rear sides,
- a first magnet secured to said front side of said base,
- a panel having a front side and a rear side,
- a metal strip fastened to said rear side of said panel in alignment with said first magnet,
- a second magnet secured to said front side of said panel,
- a picture panel having a front side and a rear side,
- a picture mounted to said front side of said picture panel, and
- a second metal strip fastened to said rear side of said picture panel in alignment with said second magnet,
- whereas said picture panel may be releasably secured to and removed from said panel without removing said panel, and
- whereas said panel may be releasably secured to and removed from said base without removing said base from the wall.
16. The picture mount of claim 15 further comprising one or more magnets secured to one or more of said top, bottom, left and/or right sides of said base.
17. The picture mount of claim 16 further comprising a frame adapted to engage a periphery of said base including said top, bottom, left and right sides, and having one or more magnets or metal strips aligned with said one or more magnets secured to said base.
18. The picture mount of claim 17 further comprising a clear pane mounted between said frame and said picture.
19. The picture mount of claim 18 further comprising a mat mounted between said clear pane and said picture panel.
20. The picture mount of claim 17 further comprising a mat mounted between said frame and said picture panel.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 21, 2012
Publication Date: Jun 27, 2013
Inventor: DENNIS R. FORBIS (Kansas City, MO)
Application Number: 13/725,456
International Classification: A47G 1/06 (20060101);